Buffalo, New York
Living in Buffalo, New York is about 40% more expensive than the national average, with a cost of living index of 140 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,451 a month, 25% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $4.23 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 41% of the area's $80,127 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$4.23
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,451
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$17.99
Combo meal
Electricity
28.65¢
per kWh · ~$258/mo
Car Insurance
$240/mo
$2,877/yr
Median Household Income
$80,127
41.3% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $2,877 in Buffalo. Compare rates:
📸 Help make this data more accurate
Some prices above are regional estimates. Submit a receipt from a local store to help us show what Buffalo residents actually pay.
Save on Gas
Find the cheapest gas near Buffalo:
Find Apartments
Avg rent $1,451/mo in Buffalo. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$17.99
Casual Dining
$31.68
Monthly Spend
$531.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Buffalo?
Average 1BR: $1,190/mo · 2BR: $1,712/mo
Buffalo Cost of Living FAQ
Is Buffalo, NY expensive to live in?
Buffalo has a cost of living index of 140, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 40% more expensive than average. It is the 6th most affordable of the 18 New York cities we track.
What is the average rent in Buffalo, NY?
Typical rent in Buffalo is $1,451 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 25% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,190 and two bedrooms about $1,712. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Buffalo?
Rent in Buffalo rose 3.9% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Buffalo?
Regular unleaded costs about $4.23 a gallon in Buffalo as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for New York. That is 6% above the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Buffalo?
Homes in New York pay an average of 28.6 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Buffalo is about $258.
How much is car insurance in Buffalo?
Full coverage car insurance averages $2,877 a year in New York, or about $240 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Buffalo?
Median household income in the Buffalo area is $80,127 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $33,088 a year, or 41% of that income. Groceries are counted at $7,165 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Buffalo compare with the rest of New York?
Rent in Buffalo is 11% below the $1,625 average across the 18 New York cities we track, and its cost of living index of 140 compares with a state average of 131.
Newsletter
Get the Monthly Price Report
We track gas, groceries, and rent so you know what's coming before it hits your wallet. One email, once a month, no spam.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Data updated monthly from FRED, Zillow, AAA.
How does Buffalo compare to other New York cities?
Compare Cities Side by Side →